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Gospel Unity

I had mentioned to two of my fellow elders that I would be taking a break from Luke this week and both encouraged me to address the subject of unity. On the one hand, I am very grateful to God for the peace and harmony He has given us over the past 24 years. On the other hand, we always have room to grow. Furthermore, because of our remaining sin/fleshliness our unity can be fragile.

Ephesians 4:1-6 is a wonderful passage which declares the gospel realities which unite us along with how we can promote and preserve the unity we have in Christ. You can prepare to hear this sermon by reading Ephesians 3:21-4:6.

Jesus Lays the Foundation for the New Israel

Remember in school when they would pick teams for softball or volleyball? If you were the captain, whom would you choose? The best players of course.

In this week’s passage Jesus picks the men who will carry on His work after He is gone. The Apostles will be the foundation of the church. But Jesus doesn’t pick the smartest rabbis or the most successful Pharisees. Instead He chooses ordinary men through whom He will turn the world upside down. God continues to use ordinary people today.

The Lord of the Sabbath

Some of us feel like life consists of an unending ‘To Do’ list. Rest is a wonderful gift from God which many of us fail to appreciate and enjoy. The Sabbath was given so that we may imitate God’s pattern of work and rest in creation and so that we may remember His work of delivering His people out of bondage into rest.

The Pharisees, however, managed to ruin the gift of God’s rest by turning the Sabbath into a legalistic burden. In Luke 6 Our Lord Jesus establishes His authority as Lord of the Sabbath as He corrects the Pharisees’ abuses while showing that the true purpose of the Sabbath is fulfilled as He shows mercy to those in need.

While Bible believing Christians today differ over the specifics of Sabbath/Lord’s Day observance, we benefit as we enjoy the weekly rest God gives us from our earthly labors and as we come together (and enjoy a reprieve from the burdens of this life) to worship Our Savior Who gives us everlasting rest.